Threshing-machine.



.PATENTED JUNE 16, '1908.

. 0- 0- BERQUAM. THRESHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 19Q7.

I 1. I 5:1 N a OLAI O. BERQUAM, OF GRAFTON, NORTH DAKOTA.

THRE SHIN G-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. June 16, 1908.

Application filed January 7, 1907. Serial No. 351,216:

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLAI O. BERQUAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grafton, in the county of Walsh and State of North Dakota,have invented new and useful Improvements in Threshing Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motors for driving threshing machines andgrain separators; and it has for its object to simplify and improve theconstruction and operation of this class of devices.

When threshing machines are driven by ower, such as a steamor gasoleneengine, it as been customary to transmit the motion from the power tothe cylinder-shaft of the threshing machine, and to transmit motion fromsaid cylinder-shaft, by belting or otherwise, directly or indirectly, tothe feedingmechanism (when separate feeding mechanism is employed), tothe separating mechanism, to the fan, and to the various driven parts orelements of the threshing machine.

This has been productive of a serious objection in that, when thecylinder is heavily fed, the speed, not only of the cylinder but of allthe driven parts has been reduced, thus causing the grain to beimperfectly cleaned while, on the other hand, when the cylinder has beenlightly fed, the speed of all the driven parts would be increased, thuscausing grain to be blown over the sieves and wasted.

To overcome these objections the present invention consists in a motorfor threshing machines which includes two separate and independentlydriven shafts, from one of which motion is transmitted to the cylinderof the threshing machine while from the other driven shaft motion istransmitted to the fan-shaft of the threshing machine from which motionmay in turn be belted or otherwise transmitted to the feeding andcleaning mechanisms and to other parts of the machine, which will thusbe driven independently of the threshing cylinder, and at a speedunaffected by the speed of the latter.

The invention, with these and other ends in view which will readilyappear as the nature of the invention is better understood, consists inthe improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed outin the claims. pr;

In the accompanying drawings haslbeen illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theinvention may be resorted to, when desired.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is a sideelevation showing the improved devicemounted in position for operation. Fig. 2- is a top plan view of thesame.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

Upon a portable truck or frame, 1, there are arranged or mounted twoseparate engines or motors, 2 and 3, which may be of any desiredconstruction and nature, and which, in the drawings, have been conventionally illustrated.

The main shafts, 4 and 5, which are driven by the engines 2 and 3,respectively, are supported for rotation in boxes or bearings, 6, 7 and8, the latter of which is disposed intermediate the two former which arelocated at the sides of the truck-frame; the shafts being disposed inaxial a'linement with each other, so that three bearings will suflice tosupport the two shafts. The shafts 4. and 5 are provided, respectively,with fly-wheels, 9 and 10, and with band wheels or pulleys, 11 and 12.

15 designates a portion of the frame of an ordinary threshing machine orgrain separator 16 is the cylinder-shaft, and 17 the fanshaft. In theoperation of the invention motion is transmitted by a belt, 18, from theshaft 4 of the motor 2 to the cylinder shaft 16, and by a belt 19 fromthe shaft 5 of the motor 3 to the fan-shaft 17. Motion may betransmitted, by belting or otherwise, from the fan-shaft to other partsof the threshing machine; but this it is considered unnecessary toillustrate.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the cylinder shaft is drivenindependently of other parts of the threshing machine, and that thespeed of such parts, including the fan, will be in nowise affected bythe varying speed of the cylinder caused by unavoidable irregularity inthe feeding of the machine, by the varying condition and quality of thematerial operated upon, and other causes which are ever present in theoperation of threshing and separating machinery.

fi Thegpresent invention may be put into practical operationflin asimple and inexpensive manner, and with highly satisfactory results, theefficiency of the threshing and cleaning or separating mechanism beinggreatly increased by the improved motor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States Threshing apparatus comprising athreshing machine; an independent supporting truck, two independentmotors supported in parallel relation upon said truck, two independentlydriven motor shafts supported for rotation in alinement with each other,a driving belt connecting one motor shaft with the threshing cylindershaft, and an independent driving belt connecting the other motor shaftwith the fan shaft of the threshing machine, whereby the work of the fanwill remain unaffected by variations in the load ofwork upon thecylinder and vice versa. In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

- OLAI O. BERQUAM. Witnesses:

P. A. JoReENsEN, W. JoHANsAN.

